Hose storage system for a washing appliance

ABSTRACT

An improved storage system for manually extendable and retractable hoses, such as the water inlet hose and the effluent discharge hose, of a portable washing appliance. The hoses are stored in separate intersecting compartments arranged between the appliance cabinet and the washing chamber. The arrangement of separate compartments substantially separates the hoses whereby manipulation by the appliance operator requires a minimum of effort, and the life of the hoses is substantially improved due to reduced wear from frictional engagement.

United States Patent [191 Hall, Jr.

[ Sept. 25, 1973 HOSE STORAGE SYSTEM FOR A WASHING APPLIANCE [75]Inventor: Edwin M. Hall, Jr., Louisville, Ky.

[73] Assignee: General Electric Company,

Louisville, Ky.

22 Filed: on. 6, 1972 211 Appl. No.: 295,437

[52] US. Cl 137/355.l7, 134/186, 137/355.23,

137/355.28 [51] Int. Cl B65h 75/36 [58] Field of Search 15/315, 323;68/3 R;

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2.737.192 3/1956 Bieler137/355.26 X

Martiniak 137/355.17 Eckerle 137/355.l7

Primary ExaminerAlan Cohan Assistant ExaminerGerald A. MichalskyAttorneyGeorge C. Atwell [57] ABSTRACT 5 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures HOSESTORAGE SYSTEM FOR A WASHING APPLIANCE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Thisinvention relates generally to an improved hose storage system and moreparticularly to a storage system wherein manually extendable andretractable hoses are stored in separate compartments within a portablewashing machine cabinet.

Prior to the present invention the water-inlet hose and the effluentdischarge hose in many portable washing appliances, such as adishwasher, have been stored together in a common compartment in thecabinet. The withdrawal of the hoses from the storage compartment wouldnormally not appear to be difficult since it only involves overcomingthe weight of the hoses, however, added to this is the frictionalengagement between the hoses and frictional contact with the adjacentwalls of the compartment. Reinserting the hoses into the compartment ismore difficult than withdrawal. During withdrawal, tension is placed onthe hoses, however, during insertion the hoses are placed in compressionand, in effect, stuffed into the compartment. This action, together withthe friction between the inlet and effluent discharge hoses, oftenrequires excessive effort by the user of the machine. This is especiallytrue after continued use at a particular location where the hoses aregenerally withdrawn the same distance during each use of the machineand, as a result, the rubber hoses acquire a "set" at an intermediatepoint along the length thereof. This is acquired set" and the fact thatthese hoses, one of which is generally heavy duty with a substantiallythick side wall to withstand water pressure, makes the hose assemblyquite cumbersome for the housewife to manipulate.

Examples of the prior art of hose storage systems are disclosed in US.Pat. No. 3,456,680 issued to L. J. Martiniak and US. Pat. No. 3,461,906issued to W. A. Eckerle, both of which are assigned to the GeneralElectric Company, the assignee of the present invention. It will benoted in these arrangements that although the hoses are convenientlystored in the compartment provided between the cabinet and the washingtub, the hoses are withdrawn and inserted into the compartment whilebeing held substantially in parallel relationship such that the usermust not onlydcform the hoses to effect withdrawal and retraction butmust also overcome the frictional engagement between the hoses as theymove relative to each other in different arcuate configurations in thecompartment.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Briefly stated, in accordance with one aspectof the present invention, there is provided a hose storage system for awashing appliance wherein at least two intersecting hose storagecompartments are provided between the cabinet and the washing chamber onthe machine. A water inlet hose and an effluent discharge hose arerespectively arranged for-storage in a separate one of the compartments.Each hose has a portion thereof secured against movement relative to itsrespective compartment. Each of the hoses has a portion extending fromits secured end to a terminal or outer end which is free to moverelative to its compartment. The outer or terminal ends of the hoses arepreferably united at a connector that serves as a means for pulling thehoses out through a common exit opening in the cabinet. The storagecompartments merge at a point rearwardly adjacent the common exitopening.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the level of the hose exitopening is substantially above at least one of the storage compartmentswhereby, during insertion of the hosesby the operator, the weight of thehose dropping into the lower level compartment serves to pull the otherhose into the other compartment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a portable dishwasher, inaccordance with the present invention, with the outer cabinet wall cutaway to illustrate the disposition of the effluent discharge hose; and

FIG. 2 is a top view of the dishwasher of FIG. 1, partially cut away toshow the disposition of the inlet hose thereof.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the drawing, thereis illustrated a portable dishwasher including an outer cabinet 1 havingside walls 2 and 3, a rear wall 4 and a top wall 5. Within cabinet 1 isa generally rectangular tub 8 which defines a wash chamber (not shown).The tub 8 and outer cabinet 1 are constructed to have a from opening towhich a door 9 is hinged. The lower extremity of the wash chamber isdefined by a bottom wall 10 on which is supported a motor pump assembly11 which includes an electric motor 13 and pump 14. The pump 14 isprovided with an effluent dischargeoutlet communicating with a conduitor effluent discharge hose 15 which is secured to the housing of thepump.

The upper extremity of the tub 8 is defined by a wall 16 which alsoserves to define the lower extremity of a hose storage compartment orfirst compartment 17. The upper extremity of the compartment 17 isdefined by the wall 5 which also serves as the upper appearance surfaceof outer cabinet 1 and may be used as a work surface by thehousewife..Located between a side wall of the tub 8 and the side wall 2of the cabinet is a second hose storage compartment 18. Compartment 17is adapted to receive and store a water inlet or first hose 20, whilethe compartment 18 is adapted to receive and store an effluent dischargehose or second hose 1S. Hose 15 extends upwardly from its connectionwith the pump 14, between the cabinet and tub wall, and into compartment18. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the water inlet hose 20 communicates witha water inlet valve 21. The valve 21 is disposed within the compartment17 and has connected thereto a conduit 22 which extends downwardly(FIG. 1) between the outer cabinet wall 2 and tub 8 into compartment. 18to terminate at a fill funnel 23 which communicates directly with thewash chamber of tub 8.

The cabinet rear wall 4 is provided with a hose exit opening 26 thereinthrough which the hoses 15 and 20 may be at least partially temporarilywithdrawn to extend outwardly from the cabinet during use of thedishwasher. A member 27 may be provided in the opening 26 to serve as aconformably-shaped pocket for a connector 29 and as a guide for thehoses 15 and 20 as they Company, the assignee of the present invention,and it serves to connect the water inlet hose 20 in communication with aconventional kitchen faucet. The connector 29 serves also to positionthe open end of the effluent discharge hose 15 over the sink so thatdrainage liquids discharged therethrough will be directed into the sinkbelow the faucet.

In accordance with the present invention, a portion of each of the hoses15 and 20 is secured against movement relative to its respectivecompartments 18 or 17; the hose 20 by its attachment to the valve 21,and the hose 15 by its attachment to the pump housing 14. The remainingor major portions of the hoses 15 and 20 are free to be manually movedrelative to their respective compartments l8 and 17. The normal positionof the effluent hose 15 within the compartment 18, as illustrated inFIG. 1, is one of a large loop consuming most of the compartment 18,while the normal position of the inlet hose 20 within compartment 17, asillustrated in FIG. 2, is one ofa large loop consuming most of thecompartment 17.

As can be readily understood in accordance with the illustratedembodiment of the present invention, the routing of the hose 20 into thechamber 17 in the upper cabinet while routing the other hose 15 into thechamber 18 in the side wall of the cabinet permits the hoses, as theyare withdrawn from or inserted into their respective compartments, to bespaced or isolated from each other, so that they do not rub against eachother. Accordingly, the withdrawal and insertion of the hoses l and 20is facilitated by their separation since the housewife does not have tocontend with frictional contact between the hoses as they are movedduring the normal use of the appliance. In other words, the user doesnot have to contend with resistance to movement between the hoses aswell as the resistance of each hose occasioned by its contact with thecabinet or tub side wall, etc.

Hoses manufactured for the purpose heretofore described are designed tobe elastically flexible and normally seek to maintain a linearorientation except when purposefully deformed to another shape. Thus,when the hoses l5 and 20 are manually withdrawn to extend outwardly fromthe cabinet for attachment by means of the connector 29 to a sinkfaucet, the hoses tend to remain straight except for a slight drape dueto their own weight. When the hoses are manually re-inserted through thecabinet opening 26, each hose has the tendency to begin a small loopthat unwinds to a large loop within its compartment. The tendency of thehoses to unwind and occupy the available space within the compartmentserves to pull the remaining ends of the hoses, where the connector 29joins the hose ends, into stored position within the opening 26.Further, the weight of the hose [5 dropping into its compartment 18exerts a pulling force which is translated therethrough to the connector29 whereby the hose 20 is more readily urged into its compartment 17.The aforementioned characteristics serve to impart to the hoses, as theyare being inserted by the machine operator, an action that one wouldnormally expect to encounter only upon use of a spring or other biasingmeans in combination with the hoses to urge them inwardly. Thus, theparticular disposition of the hose storage compartments herein disclosedand the specific independent storage location for each of the hosesprovided therebY, gives a retraction or re-insertion assistance featurethat could only otherwise be accomplished in a more expensive andcomplicated system.

With the present invention, a self-seating" effect occurs wherein theconnector 29 snaps into its stored position within the opening 26 uponre-insertion of the hoses 15 and 20, and a problem familiar to many moreconventional hose storage systems in appliance cabinets of the prior artis thereby solved. More specifically, where the housewife found greatdifficulty in urging hoses into their storage position within anappliance cabinet available heretofore, she would often abandon herefforts to re-insert the hoses entirely and permit the hose ends todangle outwardly several inches from the cabinet. Utilization of thepresent invention obviates this possibility since, once the major hoseportions have been manually re-inserted, the outer portion of the hosesand the connector therewith appear to the housewife to travel inwardlyof their own volition and seat in the proper stored position. The hosesin the system herein disclosed are assured a comparatively longer lifedue to the relatively less frictional engagement between them and theinherent tendency of the hoses to yield easily to the minimal manualwithdrawing and retracting force applied thereto.

While in accordance with the Patent Statutes, l have described what atpresent is considered to be the preferred embodiment of my invention, itwill be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes andmodifications may be made therein without departing from the scope andspirit of the invention as set forth in the claims appended hereto.

1 claim:

1. A hose storage system in a portable washing appliance of the typehaving a cabinet and a wash chamber therein, comprising:

a first hose;

a second hose;

a first hose storage compartment for the first hose;

a second hosestorage compartment for the second hose;

the compartments being within the cabinet and outside of the chamber,and being disposed to intersect with each other;

a hose exit opening through the cabinet side wall and adjacent theintersection of the compartments; I the hoses adapted to be at leastpartially manually inserted into and partially withdrawable from thecompartments and through the exit opening; means disposed adjacent theopening, when the hoses are stored substantially within their respectivecompartments, joining ends of the hoses to one another whereby the hosesand insertable and withdrawable in unison through the opening.

2. The hose storage system of claim 1 wherein the first hose storagecompartment is disposed substantially below the level of the exitopening whereby, upon manual insertion of the hoses, the weight of thefirst hose dropping into the first storage compartment serves to pullthe second hose inwardly to the second compartment.

3. A hose storage system for a washing machine including a cabinet and awashing chamber arranged to be spaced from said cabinet comprising:

at least two intersecting hose storage compartments arranged betweensaid cabinet and said washing chamber;

an opening in said machine cabinet communicating with said compartmentsadjacent said intersection;

a first hose being at least partially withdrawable from one of saidcompartments;

a second hose being at least partially withdrawable from the othercompartment;

means to secure a portion of each of said hoses against movementrelative to their respective compartments;

said first and second hoses each having a major portion extending fromsaid securing means to a terminal end which is free to move relative toits respective compartment;

said major portions of said first and second hoses forming a loop withintheir respective compartments; and

ber and said cabinet.

1. A hose storage system in a portable washing appliance of the typehaving a cabinet and a wash chamber therein, comprising: a first hose; asecond hose; a first hose storage compartment for the first hose; asecond hose storage compartment for the second hose; the compartmentsbeing within the cabinet and outside of the chamber, and being disposedto intersect with each other; a hose exit opening through the cabinetside wall and adjacent the intersection of the compartments; the hosesadapted to be at least partially manually inserted into and partiallywithdrawable from the compartments and through the exit opening; meansdisposed adjacent the opening, when the hoses are stored substantiallywithin their respective compartments, joining ends of the hoses to oneanother whereby the hoses and insertable and withdrawable in unisonthrough the opening.
 2. The hose storage system of claim 1 wherein thefirst hose storage compartment is disposed substantially below the levelof the exit opening whereby, upon manual insertion of the hoses, theweight of the first hose dropping into the first storage compartmentserves to pull the second hose inwardly to the second compartment.
 3. Ahose storage system for a washing machine including a cabinet and awashing chamber arranged to be spaced from said cabinet comprising: atleast two intersecting hose storage compartments arranged between saidcabinet and said washing chamber; an opening in said machine cabinetcommunicating with said compartments adjacent said intersection; a firsthose being at least partially withdrawable from one of saidcompartments; a second hose being at least partially withdrawable fromthe other compartment; means to secure a portion of each of said hosesagainst movement relative to their respective compartments; said firstand second hoses each having a major portion extending from saidsecuring means to a terminal end which is free to move relative to itsrespective compartment; said major portions of said first and secondhoses forming a loop within their respective compartments; and theterminal ends of said hoses being brought together at the intersectionof said compartments and said opening whereby said hoses may be at leastpartially withdrawn from their respective compartments through saidopening.
 4. The hose storage system of claim 3, wherein at least one ofsaid hose storage compartments is vertically disposed between the sidewalls of said cabinet and said wash chamber.
 5. The hose storage systemof claim 4 wherein the other of said hose storage compartments ishorizontally disposed between the top walls of said washing chamber andsaid cabinet.